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Girl name

Sultan name meaning

“sovereign; holder of ruling authority”

Sultan means sovereign or holder of ruling authority. It comes from Arabic sulṭān, which also expresses power, authority, or proof. In Türkiye it is used as a feminine given name, with masculine usage as well. Historical names such as Mihrimah Sultan illustrate its connection with court titles.

Ottoman Turkish
/sultan/
Gender
♀ Girl
Origin
Arabic
Syllables
2
Popularity
In TÜİK lists

What does Sultan mean?

Sovereign; holder of ruling authority

In Turkish: hükümdar; egemenlik ve yetki sahibi

Sultan is a sovereign's title that also became a personal name. Ottoman usage applied it both to rulers and to women of the dynasty. This historical range helps explain its use for both genders; Turkish also uses it figuratively for someone cherished or held in high regard.

#Royalty#Leadership
Names found in the Quran

How popular is Sultan?

Official figures: TÜİK newborn name lists (2018–2025, the top 30 for Türkiye and each of the 81 provinces every year) and the most common names in the population.

Province lists
19provinces
Girls named Sultan in Türkiye (2025)
191,066

Where is Sultan in the top 30?

19 provinces · the latest year each province listed it

Adana: not in the top listAdıyaman: #27 · 5 (2024)Afyonkarahisar: #30 · 7 (2025)Ağrı: not in the top listAmasya: not in the top listAnkara: not in the top listAntalya: not in the top listArtvin: not in the top listAydın: not in the top listBalıkesir: not in the top listBilecik: #16 · 3 (2020)Bingöl: not in the top listBitlis: not in the top listBolu: not in the top listBurdur: #13 · 5 (2019)Bursa: not in the top listÇanakkale: not in the top listÇankırı: not in the top listÇorum: #23 · 4 (2021)Denizli: not in the top listDiyarbakır: not in the top listEdirne: #19 · 3 (2023)Elazığ: not in the top listErzincan: not in the top listErzurum: not in the top listEskişehir: not in the top listGaziantep: not in the top listGiresun: not in the top listGümüşhane: not in the top listHakkari: not in the top listHatay: not in the top listIsparta: #21 · 4 (2023)Mersin: not in the top listİstanbul: not in the top listİzmir: not in the top listKars: #18 · 3 (2020)Kastamonu: not in the top listKayseri: not in the top listKırklareli: not in the top listKırşehir: #17 · 4 (2018)Kocaeli: not in the top listKonya: not in the top listKütahya: #24 · 6 (2018)Malatya: not in the top listManisa: not in the top listKahramanmaraş: not in the top listMardin: #30 · 28 (2024)Muğla: not in the top listMuş: not in the top listNevşehir: not in the top listNiğde: #22 · 3 (2021)Ordu: not in the top listRize: not in the top listSakarya: not in the top listSamsun: not in the top listSiirt: not in the top listSinop: not in the top listSivas: not in the top listTekirdağ: not in the top listTokat: not in the top listTrabzon: not in the top listTunceli: not in the top listŞanlıurfa: not in the top listUşak: #21 · 4 (2023)Van: not in the top listYozgat: #22 · 4 (2019)Zonguldak: not in the top listAksaray: #22 · 5 (2024)Bayburt: not in the top listKaraman: #14 · 3 (2023)Kırıkkale: #15 · 3 (2019)Batman: not in the top listŞırnak: not in the top listBartın: not in the top listArdahan: not in the top listIğdır: not in the top listYalova: not in the top listKarabük: not in the top listKilis: #14 · 3 (2018)Osmaniye: #28 · 3 (2024)Düzce: not in the top list
Rank by province (girls)

Double names with Sultan

Double names counted as one name in TÜİK newborn lists (all years and provinces combined).

Source: TurkStat (TÜİK), Address-Based Population Registration System. The lists cover the top 30 names per year, sex and province; no official counts are published for less common names. All statistics →

Why is Sultan popular?

Sultan carries a strong historical association through its meaning of ruler and sovereign authority. Its distinct, two-syllable sound did not coincide with a girls' top-thirty appearance in the supplied period.

Origin of the name Sultan

Sultan comes from Arabic sulṭān, a word with senses including authority, power, and proof. It developed into a sovereign's title.

Linguistic originArabic
Naming traditionIslamic
In Islamic historyNames found in the Quran
Is Sultan in the Quran?As a word · سلطان · 14:22Sulṭān occurs in the Quran in the sense of authority, power, or proof, rather than as a sovereign’s personal name.
Starts withS · Su

Names are shared across communities. Where a name is common says nothing certain about any one person’s background, faith or origin.

Double names with Sultan

Double-name ideas built from names in our dictionary, with the meaning of each name.

  • Sultan Maryam

    Meaning of each name

    • Sultan: sovereign; holder of ruling authority
    • Maryam: Arabic form of the name Mary

  • İsra Sultan

    Meaning of each name

    • İsra: a journey by night, nocturnal travel
    • Sultan: sovereign; holder of ruling authority

  • Sultan Atike

    Meaning of each name

    • Sultan: sovereign; holder of ruling authority
    • Atike: noble, distinguished; free

  • Ecrin Sultan

    Meaning of each name

    • Ecrin: recompense, reward; payment for work
    • Sultan: sovereign; holder of ruling authority

  • Sultan Esmanur

    Meaning of each name

    • Sultan: sovereign; holder of ruling authority
    • Esmanur: a combination of Esma and light

  • Reyyan Sultan

    Meaning of each name

    • Reyyan: quenched with water; fresh and lush
    • Sultan: sovereign; holder of ruling authority

Double names found in TÜİK’s newborn lists: Esma Sultan, Sultan Nur, Zeynep Sultan, Yüsra Sultan, Hatice Sultan, Ecrin Sultan.

Make more with the generator →More girl double names →

How to pronounce Sultan

Syllables2 · 6 letters · 6-letter girl names
IPA/sultan/
Ottoman Turkishسلطان

Ottoman script tool →

Is Sultan a girl’s name?

Yes, Sultan is used mostly as a girl’s name. See all girl names.

♂ Boys 0%Girls 100% ♀

Sultan appears in TÜİK’s most-used name lists. See the statistics section above (Source: TurkStat, ADNKS).

Spellings and similar names

Names that sound like Sultan

Names with related meanings

FAQ about the name Sultan

What is the meaning of Sultan?

Sultan means “sovereign; holder of ruling authority”. Sultan comes from Arabic sulṭān, a word with senses including authority, power, and proof. It developed into a sovereign's title.

Is Sultan a girl’s name?

Yes, Sultan is used mostly as a girl’s name.

Is Sultan in the Quran?

As a word. Sulṭān occurs in the Quran in the sense of authority, power, or proof, rather than as a sovereign’s personal name. (e.g.: 14:22)

What is the origin of the name Sultan?

Sultan is of Arabic origin.

How many syllables does Sultan have?

Sultan has 2 syllables and 6 letters.

How popular is the name Sultan?

Sultan appears in TÜİK’s most-used name lists. See the statistics section above (Source: TurkStat, ADNKS).

What names go well with Sultan?

Some ideas: Sultan Maryam; İsra Sultan; Sultan Atike.

Sources and method

Meanings and origins draw on language sources and name dictionaries; popularity figures come from TÜİK’s address-based population register, and notable people from Wikidata.

Entry ID: nm00036 · Updated 2026-10-24 · How we research names · Report a mistake